December 21st, 1912.
My dear Miss Addams:-
To present fully to you the following matter, in which you have taken a very kindly interest and also in order to make a record of events while they are clear in mind, I wish to present this statement to you.
Following the election in November, certain persons suggested to Mr. A. A. McCormick my appointment as County Attorney. He subsequently informed them, and told me personally, that he regretted that this suggestion of my name had not been made earlier and that at the time when it had been bought to his notice he had already committed himself on that appointment. Mr. McCormick asked Mr. Harold L. Ickes and you also, I believe, whether I would accept the position of Assistant County Attorney, in order that my services might be utilized in those matters concerning county finances and revenue, in regard to which I had been recommended as specially qualified. At your suggestion and his request I had a talk with him about these matters December 8th and stated that I could not accept the position of Assistant County Attorney, for three reasons:
First -- I could not make the financial sacrifice involved.
Second -- It did not measure up to the professional stnading which I desired to maintain.
Third -- It would not give me a real opportunity to accomplish the public service which I desired to do.
I suggested to him, however, that he was at liberty to appoint an attorney to the President of the Board, who would not be required to devote all his time to the work nor give up his private practice and that, if he desired to utilize my services, he could do so in that manner. On December 12th, at a conference with Mr. McCormick and County Attorney Chindblom regarding this matter, Mr. Chindblom stated that the position of Attorney to the President was a Civil Service position amd hence could not be filled in the manner suggested. On that same day I wrote to Mr. McCormick, pointing out that by the express language of the Civil Service Law of 1911 this position was expected from the classified Civil Service. At a conference this morning with Mr. McCormick and Mr. Chindblom, Mr. Chindblom stated that the position did not come within the Civil Service but that it must be created by a resolution of the Board and an appropriation for the salary. Mr. McCormick stated that, in view of his present somewhat strained relations with the Board, there would be difficulties which he did not care to add to his present problems by creating such a position, obtaining confirmation and in the appropriation bill providing for a salary. I pointed out that the power to appoint his own [page 2] attorney was entirely within his own hands and that the only uncertainty which could be created by the Board would be as to whether the Board would appropriate a salary or not. I stated that on account of private arrangements it was necessary for me to know whether or not I was to undertake this public work, which would necessarily have a distinct effect on private practice and that, therefore, in order that he might decide the matter without taking into consideration the attitude or future actions of the County Board, I would undertake the risk of no salary appropriation if he desired to make the appointment, since the question of pay for services was not the most important one involved in my consideration. Mr. Chindblom prophesied the criticism to which Mr. McCormick would be subjected by opposing members of the Board should he, in lieu of appointing an Assistant County Attorney, designate that attorney as Attorney to the President, Mr. McCormick stated that "until things are ironed out" he did not feel that he could make this appointment, which, however, he expressed the desire to make at the present time and the intention to make whenever it would be feasible. I stated, however, that I did not wish him to feel this matter in any way hanging over him as unfinished business and that for my part, I did not wish to feel bound in any way, nor to in any way involve my plans with the consideration of such a possibility. Therefore I did not wish him to consider the matter as held open but as definitely closed.
I appreciate the compliment of the consideration which has been given me in this connection but, as I said to Mr. McCormick today, <while> I should welcome the opportunity to accomplish something from within in the way of public service, I also recognize that, unless conditions are favorable, such work can often be best done from the outside.
In regard to the difficulty which Mr. McCormick anticipated in attempting to have my appointment confirmed by the Board, I wish to add, for your own information, that this was not a difficulty practically investigated or concerning which I was consulted, but simply one built up by those whose chief desire is to assure themselves of no interference with their plans from me. I was not consulted regarding this nor did I have any opportunity to explain to Mr. McCormick privately the probability that he would have no difficulty at all in obtaining such a confirmation. In my various non-partisan political and public activities I have done many favors for persons influential in both branches of the Democratic organization, -- I might say for persons most influential. Such favors have been done without political intent and without hope or any request for political reward -- purely as incidental to other work whic I was doing. Although there is nothing to recommend me to active assistance from any Democratic organization, I think it would have been comparatively easy for me to dispose of any such opposition as Mr. McCormick suggested and I have no doubt, from a political point of view, that our Democratic friends would prefer the appointment of a Progressive to that of a Republican.
This, however, brings me to another point, which is, that it appears to be the policy adopted by Mr. McCormick not to make any [page 3] Progressive appointments. While I believe my record in public matters hardly entitles me to be classed as a violent partisan, nevertheless, as I am (and very proud to be) a Progressive, I think that fact had distinct weight against my appointment. Candidly, it appeals to me that, in his desire to be non-political in his appointments, Mr. McCormick has leaned far over backwards. He evidently recognizes that Progressive leaders risked their leadership to assure him of an even chance and that his election was only possible on account of Progressive support and hence feels that politicians may regard it as exhibiting gratitude and acknowledging indebtedness should he make any Progressive appointments. Apparently, in fear of such an attitude, he is surrounding himself with men whose sole interest is to perpetuate the old regime. I do not feel that Mr. McCormick is responsible for the amusingly insincere and mendacious arguments against my appointment. He has a large job on his hands, with which of course he is unfamiliar. He relies for advice upon gentlemen to whose plans it is absolutely fundamental that no such person as I shall have an opportunity to know what is going on and to combat the continuation of past abuses. In four specific instances, three of them in my presence, he has been very badly advised, both as to law and policy, which has given me two contradictory feelings. First-- The feeling that in his own interest, and in the interest of the county and those who have staunchly supported him, he certainly ought to have additional legal counsel. And, in order to take this suggestion out of the personal realm, I could recommend probably half a dozen men who could be of great service to him. Second-- That under present conditions, without a distinct change of attitude on Mr. McCormick's part, it would be very difficult for any one to attempt to be of assitance.
I have written at great length and very frankly concerning this matter because I have such confidence in the geniuneness of your interest therein and believe also in Mr. McCormick's good intentions. But I wish in some way he could come to realize, in the near future, the deplorable conditions immediately surrounding him which he was elected to change and which he is being used to perpetuate.
Comments